Celtic were one of a number of clubs who were in attendance at the Europa League qualifier between Glenavon and Molde on Wednesday with teenage sensation Erling Braut Haland at the centre of many sides’ attentions, according to Aftenposten.
The Norwegian publication, as relayed and translated by the Scotsman, claim on their website that the Hoops had a scout in place as the Northern Irish side triumphed 2-1 against their Scandinavian opposition, but that it was 17-year-old striker Haland, who has netted eight goals in Norway’s top flight, who was attracting the attention of most of the 15 clubs watching on.
The young forward, who already stands at 6’2″ (source: Transfermarkt) has scored a total of 12 goals in 34 appearances for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side since breaking into the first team.
Opinion
While only those in the Parkhead transfer department will know exactly who the Celtic scout in attendance was watching on Wednesday, it would be no surprise if Haland was on their list of targets this summer. A teenager who has really hit the ground running in the first team at Molde, the Hoops may be thinking he can offer backup to the likes of Leigh Griffiths and Moussa Dembele, handing him a decent amount of playing time before establishing himself as a regular in the first team. He would certainly find himself playing more in Scotland than at any of the Premier League sides who are also reported in the hunt for his capture, and that could swing the pendulum in the favour of Brendan Rodgers’ side. The teen star will be tempted by the money in England, but having already become a regular in Molde’s senior line up, he is unlikely to want to give up the opportunity to keep playing football at a decent level.